Grant: Operating Grant: Industry-partnered Collaborative Research

Despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine, the hepatitis B virus (HBV) afflicts over 240 million people worldwide leading to ~1 million deaths per year from serious liver disease and liver cancer. Over 240,000 Canadians are believed to be infected by hepatitis B. Due to the obesity epidemic, high fat diets, and sedentary (inactive) lifestyle, fatty liver disease is also emerging as a leading global cause of liver disease in many people. The impact of simultaneous hepatitis B infection and fatty liver on liver disease and liver cancer risk is unclear. We will study 2 groups of patients to determine: (1) HBV vaccine responses in patients with fatty liver disease and, (2) risk factors for liver scarring and liver cancer in patients with fatty liver who are also infected with the hepatitis B virus. At the same time, we will use complementary studies in mice with fatty liver disease to determine the effect of fat in the liver on response to HBV vaccination. In addition, we will study mice who carry the hepatitis B virus and use novel, real-time "live cell imaging" to track how immune cells in the liver respond to HBV infection, and to determine how liver damage (i.e., scarring or cirrhosis) occurs in the presence of both fatty liver and hepatitis B. Hepatitis B and fatty liver disease are important causes of end-stage liver disease (i.e., cirrhosis) and liver cancer worldwide. Our research will increase understanding of how and why serious liver damage and liver cancer occurs in patients who have fatty liver and hepatitis B. These studies will also provide information on the effectiveness (success) of the HBV vaccine in obese, and diabetic patients with fatty liver disease. In summary, this research will help in treatment and prevention of two important cause of death due to liver disease worldwide (hepatitis B and fatty liver).